§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him by management of United Kingdom-based subsidiaries of American companies whose parent companies are threatened with prosecutions in the United States of America because of the alleged compliance by the United Kingdom subsidiary with the Arab trade boycott of Israel; and what reply he has given.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in each of the years 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 officials of his Department have authenticated the signatures of notaries-public on documents which purport to state that goods for export to countries participating in the Arab trade boycott of Israel are not wholly or in part of Israeli manufacture; and why this practice is permitted to continue.
§ Mr. LuceThe information requested is not available. When the signature and seal of a notary public is authenticated by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, no record is kept of the contents of the document to which the notarial certificate is attached. The practice is a standard legal procedure, which merely confirms the validity of the signature. We reviewed that practice in 1983 and concluded that it would not be right to change our long-standing procedures.
§ Mr. Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State of the United States of America regarding the fines imposed in September 1984 in the United States of America on two United Kingdom 202W subsidiaries of American firms for complying with the Arab trade boycott of Israel contrary to United States' legislation; and what future steps he proposes to harmonise United Kingdom legislation on this issue with the United States of America.
§ Mr. LuceMy right hon. and learned Friend has not discussed these fines with the United States Secretary of State, nor do we believe that United Kingdom legislation would be appropriate.